PBeM Dune!!

From: johnson@ferret.cig.mot.com (Brad Johnson)

Date: Wed, 07 Dec 1994 17:34:42 +0000

I am preparing to run a game of email Dune.  I currently
have 5 players, and I need 1 more.  If you're interested,
please send me email at johnson@ferret.cig.mot.com.  I'll
take the first person that I hear from, but I will keep the
rest as standby players, so don't be afraid to send me
a note.  (If you've played the game before and own a
copy of it, you meet the qualifications to play.)

We won't be using Spice Harvest or The Duel, but we will
be voting on whether or not to use the Optional Rules
and/or the Advanced Rules.  (I'll vote only to break ties,
but I *strongly* recommend using all of the Optional and
Advanced Rules.)

I'm also in the process of working up an email protocol for
the game, and it's not as easy as it sounds.  I'd like
to keep the number "order/response" cycles at a minimum,
but that's amazing difficult to do with all of the special
powers and cards that can be invoked at all different
times during the game.

I'm considering using a protocol that would stress
"information hiding".  That is, rather than all players
knowing the position of all units on the board, and who
buys how many cards, and who's allied with whom, and so
on, I as GM would generally report information only to
those players who would know it.  [For example, the
Atreides would get to know who bought which card, but
no one else would know.  The Guild would know who ships
down to the planet and where (except for the Fremen).
Most players would know only when another faction's
units enter or leave a space where they also have units
(which would give an added benefit to the BG's ability
to coexist all around the board).  Each player would
only know who s/he is allied with; no one else will no
for sure with whom you're allied (or even if you are
allied).  In many cases, no one would know who played
certain cards and for what purpose (e.g. Truth Trance).
Of course, all players would know where the spice blows are,
when Shai Hulud shows up, and where the storm goes.  An
interesting concept I'm considering in conjunction with
this policy, if we used it, would be that a player would be
allowed to use a Truth Trance card on the GM to ask one yes/no
question about the game.]  Anyway, if you're interested
in playing, please also let me know if you would like
to use this "hidden information" style of play or not.

Thanks,
Brad Johnson (johnson@ferret.cig.mot.com)